New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-15

Homp00iro become
fequehtly felt the need OF Federal assistance But
when the struggle was over Congress found itself
burdened With debt which the obligation OF no
State in particular s credit gone Its power was
constantly disputed is policy sharply reviewed and
from the position of master II was reduced to tnat Oh
timd dependency. And yst, the people OF all the
States recognized the prime Importance of establish
ing united government Of some kind The demands
of commerce slone enough to keep this necessity
continually prominent. In vague way, too, they all
looked upon Congress power higher than their
| local governments. Each State. however, and the
smaller especially, fesred the absorption OF their
own power In that OF the greater general government
The determination of the relative powers OF Congress
and the local Legislatures could not be postponed
longer. The scheme Of Colonial union was hrss sug
Qested BY Franklin Ia the Albany Convention OF
l754 and he broacbed the subject again In Congress
in 1873. He was abroad, however, when year later
a committee of that body was appointed to draw up
scheme of confederation. The plan they brought
forward was approved aud sent to the States tor
acul Three years consumed tefore 1t hnaly
went into eject with the sanction of all the colonies
and lite utter inutility became once apparent. 80
far from increasing the powers of body which had
ordained with sovereign and unchaeneed authority'
Its Limitations only served to show Congress ite nope
less impotenoy. For years 1t struggled along IN
the attempt to exercise the Office OF National Legs
lature but the spectacle If Its weakness became
clearer and clearer, until when an armed rebeihon
threatened its Lie the people rose to sense Oh tner
peril
ments was fortunate one Their evils were 20 glar-
ing rs to be education of the public mind lhey
taught the people that the price OF social oraer anu
eighty into the hands Of the whole Nation ana the
formation OF a strong central government armed Win
its authority When the problem OF union hnslly
came 70 be solved the minds of the eople we've much
reader to approve such scheme and to recognize inc
impossibility Of any other. New-fork, winch had
always concec ed to its Executive influence more In
keeping III lis dignity. dealt the death blow to The
old confederation. Its Legislature adopted 2 paper
setting forth the weaknesses OF Congress- virginia
promptly acted upon this hint and summoned CON
veption for the purpose OF laying the subject OF
tariff before the States Ibis was the vital issue.
The convention met and deliberated, but being
attended by delegates from only five OF the States
failed to accomplish its original purpose It's meet
ing, no wever. by no means barren OF result lot
agitated the subject Of revision OF the Articles OF
and In Tited the States to appoint COM
miss;oners meet in Philadelphia in May 1857. Tor
that purpose. Newly put this suggestion IN o
gressional delegation TO move resolution In Con
gress recon meuding the State to take that action
This resolution passed. and in pursuance 70 " tue
nstitutionai Convention was finally assembled.
THE CONVENTION ASSEMBLED.
1t was as great body OF patriots as ever gathered
together promote the welfare OF any nation. They
we're not nOvices. They men distinguished Tor
their talents, for experience, for learning ana 10
public services Washington and Madison came from
Virginia Ruus King, atterward Senator from New
York. and the ancestor of three generations OF able
statesmen. came with Eibrdge Gerry lion Massachu-
setts George Read whollsughed at the remark Of the
Tory Galloway, that he had signed the Declaration
of independence with the halter round his neck and
babe him beware lest his neck should nrst feel
the rope draw, came from Delaware with Cunning
Bedford and that most eminent jurist, John Dickin-
SOP, in memory of whose services the Legislature OF
PENNSYLVANIA incorporated the college OF Carlisle
which still bears his name. Roger sherman aud
Oliver Ellsworth we're sent from Connecticut, Hugh
Williamson from North Carolina, and John Kut-
ledge Charles G. Pinckuey and Charles Pinckney
from South Carolina At the head OF the Pennsyi-
vania delegation stood Benz amin Franklin then
eghty-one years of age happy in the just hope that
he should get live to the realizs alton oil ais long
cherished plan. Ass ociatod with aim were ROBERT
Morris Cot verneur Norris Jared lnsersoll ana that
wonderful and strangely unknown statesm an James
Wilson, whose personal imprint Is borne Ia tue com
pleted labor Of the convention tar more clearly than
that Of any Que Of his associates Considering the
part New York had taken In summonine the nseemoy
her representation In 1t vas oddly weak Hamilton
led IT, but his lost in the opposition oil MS
colleagues, Robert Yates aud John Lansing both oil
ON laid themselves open to the most serious com
plant By Withdrawing tron The convention oeiote .s
work In shed upon the bimsy excuse ths' Was
exceeding ts delegated powers.
The convention did not settle down towork untu
the end of May. aud it soon became absorbed IN as
custom to its proper province IDS was only tno
question States Rights Ia another FORM ~ was
quickly apparent that majority OF the commissioners
were favor OF establishing independent suprene
Federal Government bat the opponents CT this pocy
were not weak il votes II they were Ia NUMBERS iho
large, States enloyed the services of more numerous
than their smaller sisters bat they did not
enjoy the advantage OF their numerical superiority Old
q division tor under the rules each State had one
vote aud they all consequently met upon an equal
plane The larger States. Massachusetts. Virgpia,
Pennsyi vania the Caronas and Georgia were All ia
favor OF the National plan. The smaller ones con
osed the States Rights party. 1t Is cdrous enough
that the Federal plan originated Nth the Delegation
from the very State which, eighty years later; DO
came the seat Of ietellious Organization eohspnine
Co annu the magnificent system first promulgated oy
it, own enlightened statesmen. lbls plan Pioposou
National ature to consist of two branches. the
frat I'm ne
didetes proposed by tho state Legislatures
National Executive and National judiciary ana .
council of revision consisting OF both OF these, VINO
should be entrusted with veto lower over so's Oh
both National aud State Legislatures his scheme
ra-ed an immediate protest IRON ,he smasr s
who claimed that the convention was called 10 atnehu
the Articles of Confederation, not TO develop an en-
tirsy new system. The answer was an oner 70 81 D
init the ina. result Of the convent on hrst 10 Congress
aud then TO conventions chosen by the people oil each
State especis lily tor it's consideration
In the earlier deliberations oil the convention tue
issue was sharlIy drawn by the larger and smaller
States between se-acong supf'ho o9nua' 49, -,
ment and a dependent cOnfederacy The absence OF
Rhode Island and New. Hampshire VINO AZ nr'I neg,
eced to send commissioners. decided the question IN
favor of the National scheme, but when 'ne cohven
ton began elaborate 1t, TO decide the constitution
OF each OF the branches OF the Governnent ana 10 ue
fine their several pOwers and the methods OF their
selectlon il cot al into what seemed TO be a
hopeless tange. Washington, as its presldhg ohcei
never spoke and rarely indicated hs opinions Out MS
influence as that OF the man whom every one even
at that regarded the probable head ct what
itself tet ami undoubtedly brought about that mar
monous and copcilatory spirit which eventually en-.
sled the assembly TO accept those compromises that
averled an oftlmpen ding aud stormy dissolution.
THE SLOW PROCESS OF ADJUSTMENT AND THE
GREAT RESULT
When the 18th of September arrived and an en-
crossed copy of what had at last been agreed upon as
the Constitution of the United States brought in
to receive the signatures OF those who mad gwen II
being 1t was one series of compromises The States
Righta party had yielded their local sovereignty and
in return had been conceded their territorial integrity
aud equal influence by the scheme OF Senate com.
posed OF two Senators from each State Tho night
OF Federal veto upon the acts of local Legislatures
was waived upon the understanding that the Federal
sh mid hscoms a court of review and appe al.